Jun 17, 2019 - At Cairns - UPDATE NOTES

Hi All, Now back on the coast in Cairns for an extended stay, on the way stopping off at Hughenden, Charters Towers and Ingham (which is on the coast before you get to Cairns. Hughenden was again a small country town but Charters Towers was such bigger as its background and economics was gold but now is mining in general. Ingham is in the sugar country, the crop is ready to come in and is in flower a beautiful sight of green cane with a silver top, from a distance a blanket of silver. As we drove eastward from Julia Creek the landscape...

Jun 10, 2019 - Day 10 UPDATE NOTES

Hi All, Great to be back on the road but the cold is really affecting us, most mornings are in the vicinity of 1-3 degrees C for us that’s cold and add to that a cold biting wind and we are suffering but have a great time regardless. We have visited the only painted grain silo (silo art) that we will as it’s the only one in Queensland, the others are mostly in NSW, SA and Victoria but we did see the one in Thallon. A wonderful piece of work which we enjoyed seeing, we also lunched at the famous Nindigully Pub where the meals are huge but...

Jun 1, 2019 - Day1 UPDATE NOTES

Hi All, Made it, we are on the road, finally after more false starts, non starts, hiccups and delays we are now there, on the way. The original plan of visiting Victoria and South Australia now gone as its just too cold in the country side in a van but we will do a bit in Queensland and try and spend some time in the areas where money needs to be spent to help the areas affected by drought, then floods and stock losees. We then plan to end up in the warmth of Caitns before heading home. So here we are, away and in the cold country side, we...

Apr 24, 2019 - London - Here we come.

LONDON here we come. Such a different feel to departing this time by not going to Congo after 10 years. Great farewell at Brisbane airport by Ian and Robyn, then flight to Sydney to quickly connect to Singapore flight on the A380. “No Heather,” said David, “don’t go to that Gate, or you’ll end up on the African flight.” Um.... now that’s a thought worth considering! Smoothe flight to Singapore. After long walk around Changi Terminals, and a midnight train ride, we arrived @ Airport Hotel and settled in room by 2 am ( Aussie time) Crashed on...

Apr 21, 2019 - Sailing the South Pacific

We are 6 days into our Trans Pacific cruise. We are playing Hand and Foot card game, watching the ocean slide by and eating good food. We have watched the surfers do the flowrider, the I-Fly and rock climbers. Have thought of doing that myself. 3100 Aussies on this trip. Really enjoying the Diamond lounge.

Apr 18, 2019 - Sailing From Sydney

We had a really nice sailaway from Sydney Harbor. We spent two nights at Sydney Harbor Marriott. Beautiful hotel. We scored a two room Suite on top floor, 32, with a nice bottle of wine and cheese plate. Marriott is our favorite hotel chain. We had a great tour to the Blue Mountains on Tuesday.

Apr 13, 2019 - About Brisbane

Have all the clothes washed and getting ready to pack for our flight to Sydney tomorrow. We had afternoon tea at a cousin's house yesterday. Went to the Soffitel for Seafood buffet on Friday night. Quite a spread and very good. Best was Morton Bay Bugs or Flathead Lobster. Had my Mother's Niece to lunch here on Friday. Margaret is her daugher, Mother's Great Niece.

Apr 1, 2019 - Cairns, Australia

Sailed for two days along the coast from Darwin to Cairns. Captain came on this am to let us know that we are going to get into Cairns a little late. He had to slow down as they use sea water to cool the engines and the temp of the sea was too warm so we had to slow down and we had heavy head winds last night. Just going out on a walkabout around Cairns now.

Mar 20, 2019 - Brisbane to Kathmandu

An early start today to get to the airport for our first flight to Singapore. Flying Air Singapore this time and the food, service and entertainment was good. We were expecting about a three hour wait for our connection but on arrival found the connecting flight would be delayed. Funny how when you have plenty of time the connecting flight is late, but when you have little time the first flight arrives late. Anyhow, Changi airport is one of the better airports to spend a few hours – plenty of food options, quiet spots, or just take the...

Mar 10, 2019 - Sailing along the coast from Brisbane to Sydney

Got on the ship yesterday with little hassle. We are enjoying the ship as it has been refurbished and is in good condition. We dock in Sydney tomorrow. No ice cream in the buffet. R is in withdrawal. It can be purchased at an ice cream bar, but you all know I wont let him buy it. LOL!!! They do have it in the dining room at lunch and dinner.

Mar 8, 2019 - Interesting sites around Brisbane

Yesterday we took the train to Roma Street station. We walked around the gardens then over to the main pedestrian street mall. Walked into the old Regency Theater where my Mother worked some during the early 1940's. She and my Dad used to go to the Shingle inn restaurant and see a movie at the Regency when they were dating. We took the ferry up the river, had lunch at Fellons on the river and reboarded the ferry to ride by the Sun Princess docked where we will board the Sea Princess on Sunday. Then took the bus to the train station and rode...

Mar 2, 2019 - Roma

We are spending 3 nights at my cousin's friends home in Roma. They have a really nice typical Queenslander home on 28 acres. We drove further west yesterday to Charleville which is the beginning to the outback. Charleville has been in a 9 yr drought. Going back to Brisbane Monday.